DFS: Top Hitters and Prop Picks for 6/24: Cubs, Phils and Braves

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Our Monkey Knife Fight Picks and DFS recommendations have been killing it recently and we’re hoping for another strong slate here. We actually have a ton of great premium content available on our site too and you can check out those packages here.

Catcher  

J.T. Realmuto, PHI vs. NYM 

DK ($3,900)   FD ($2,900) 

Realmuto has actually had a down year by his lofty standards but it’s lowered his price to this intriguing number. What really makes him an attractive DFS option on this slate is that he gets the platoon advantage in his favor, with Realmuto providing an .879 OPS against lefties so far this season. Steven Matz is not a guy we need to worry about either, as he’s posting a 6.21 ERA and 1.59 WHIP on the road this season and will have a tough time navigating through this potent lineup in a hitter’s park. 

First Base  

Anthony Rizzo, CHC vs. ATL 

DK ($4,600)   FD ($3,900) 

Rizzo’s DFS price has actually dropped about $500 on each site recently and it’s hard to understand why. Since starting with a .159 AVG after the first three weeks, Rizzo has returned to his All-Star form recently. In fact, Rizzo is posting a .324 AVG, .423 OBP and 1.054 OPS in the 47 games since that awful start. We always love when Riz faces a righty too, with the slugging first baseman posting a .920 OPS against right-handed pitching since 2017. I want to start batters against Julio Teheran for the next few weeks too, as his 5.08 xFIP and 5.09 SIERA screams major regression from his 3.40 ERA. 

Second Base  

Jason Kipnis, CLE vs. KC 

DK ($4,000)   FD ($3,000) 

Kipnis has quietly been a stud the last two weeks and this DFS price is not indicative of how good he’s been. Over his last seven games, Kipnis is hitting .440 while providing three homers and 11 RBI en route to a 1.437 OPS. Almost all of that production has come against right-handers and it’s no surprise when you consider the fact that he has a career OPS approaching .800 with the platoon advantage in his favor. Brad Keller’s 4.45 ERA and 1.40 WHIP is also a variable in Kipnis’ favor, as he’ll be facing an Indians team that is averaging 6.4 runs per game over their last 10 fixtures. 

Third Base 

Josh Donaldson, ATL at CHC 

DK ($4,300)   FD ($3,000) 

This might be the easiest DFS play on the board, as Donaldson is the greatest value around. Donaldson has obliterated left-handed pitching throughout his career and the slugging third baseman is scorching hot right now. Over his last 12 games. Donaldson is approaching a .400 AVG while collecting seven homers and 12 RBI. That’s the MVP Donaldson that we loved in Toronto and he has a career .956 OPS against lefties in his back pocket. Jon Lester is really struggling right now too and we’ll go over that more in out outfield write-up. 

Also Consider: The third base position is absolutely stacked on this slate, as we also love Vladimir Guerrero Jr. against C.C. Sabathia and Nolan Arenado versus Drew Pomeranz. Both players are dominant against left-handed pitching and both guys are facing league-average arms.

Shortstop 

Jean Segura, PHI vs. NYM 

DK ($3,900)   FD ($3,400) 

This DFS play looks pretty obvious after the Realmuto write-up, as we definitely want to stack some Phillies. Matz’s road form is a major reason why and it becomes very scary for him with all of the potent righties in this lineup. Realmuto, Segura, Rhys Hoskins and Scott Kingery are all very much in play but Segura is easily one of their best values. The stud shortstop has absolutely obliterated southpaws this season, to the tune of a .644 SLG and 1.003 OPS. He’ll also be in the heart of an order that is projected for five runs.

Outfield 

Ronald Acuna Jr, ATL at CHC 

DK ($4,800)   FD ($4,300) 

We left you hanging in the Donaldson write-up, so let’s break down why we love the Braves for DFS today. The simple fact is, Jon Lester is struggling mightily right now, pitching to a 7.17 ERA and 1.59 WHIP over his last seven starts. That spells disaster against these potent righties and particularly a stud like Acuna. Not only has Acuna generated a 1.008 career OPS against southpaws, he’s actually providing a .314 AVG and 1.003 OPS over his last 19 games. 

Ian Desmond, COL at SF 

DK ($4,400)   FD ($3,300) 

This guy has actually really turned things around recently, which is evident by his .357 AVG and 1.077 OPS over his last 38 games. That’s incredible production from a guy that many people wrote off earlier in the year and a good amount of that damage has come against left-handed pitching. In fact, Desmond has accrued a 1.103 OPS against southpaws so far this season. Drew Pomeranz is definitely a lefty we want to exploit too, pitching to a 7.08 ERA and 1.78 WHIP. 

Kyle Schwarber, CHC vs. ATL 

DK ($3,900)   FD ($3,100) 

It’s weird that Schwarber’s DFS price hasn’t risen more, as he’s been a different player since being moved to the leadoff spot. Over his last 28 games, Schwarber has tallied 10 homers, 20 runs scored and 20 RBI. That’s all you can ask for from someone in this price range and we have to love him with the projected negative regression headed Teheran’s way. Schwarber has always been better against righties too, posting a .493 SLG and .830 OPS against them since 2017. 

Also Consider: Randal Grichuk has had success against the Yankees throughout his career and gets the DFS platoon advantage against C.C. Sabathia in Yankee Stadium. 

Monkey Knife Fight Picks of the Day 

I’m currently 11-6 over my last 17 MKF recommendations and I’m going to continue to ride strikeout props since those have been the most profitable for me thus far. 

Steven Matz Under 5.5 Strikeouts 

This play is just as much about the Phillies as it is Matz, especially considering his aforementioned road statistics in the DFS section. I really think Matz is going to have a hard time navigating through this righty-heavy lineup, particularly in a hitter’s haven like Citizen’s Bank Park. That’s why Vegas has Philadelphia projected for more than five runs, as the statistics don’t help Matz’s case much either. Not only do the Phillies rank 11^th in K rate this season, Matz’s 21 percent K rate since 2017 is also nothing to write home about either. 

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Jon Gray Over 5.5 Strikeouts 

Many people don’t realize how good Gray can be at times and he’s truly been brilliant on the road throughout his career. Switching from Coors Field to Oracle Park is comparable to switching from Spirit Airlines to Emirates Airlines. It’s simply the best pitching environment in the Majors and it doesn’t even take into consideration that the Giants rank 28^th in runs scored and 29^th in OPS. The venue, paired with Gray’s 26 percent K rate since 2016 makes this my favorite prop play of the day.